SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"). These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and MethylGene. All significant inter-company transactions, balances and expenses have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Mirati was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 29, 2013. On May 8, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors approved and the Company entered into an arrangement agreement ("Arrangement") with MethylGene. Upon completion of the Arrangement, MethylGene became the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary.

These consolidated financial statements are presented in United States ("U.S.") Dollars, which is also the functional currency of the Company.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Estimates and assumptions are reviewed quarterly. Any revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid securities with original maturities at the date of acquisition of ninety days or less. Investments with an original maturity of more than ninety days are considered short-term investments and have been classified by management as available-for-sale. These investments are classified as current assets, even though the stated maturity date may be one year or more beyond the current balance sheet date, which reflects management’s intention to use the proceeds from sales of these securities to fund its operations, as necessary. Such investments are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities or the amounts, net of tax, reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income, if any, are determined on a specific identification basis.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company invests its excess cash in accordance with its investment policy. The Company's investments are comprised primarily of commercial paper and debt instruments of financial institutions, corporations, U.S. government-sponsored agencies and the U.S. Treasury. The Company mitigates credit risk by maintaining a diversified portfolio and limiting the amount of investment exposure as to institution, maturity and investment type. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents and short-term investments.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, using the full retrospective transition method.  As the Company did not have any revenue contracts prior to the first quarter of 2018, an adjustment to prior periods under this method was not applicable. This standard applies to all contracts with customers, except for contracts that are within the scope of other standards, such as leases, insurance, collaboration arrangements and financial instruments.  Under Topic 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of Topic 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.  The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer.  At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of Topic 606, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations, and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct.  The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied. 

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. All repairs and maintenance are charged to net loss during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:

Computer equipment	3 years
Office and other equipment	6 years
Laboratory equipment	6 years
Leasehold improvements	The lesser of the lease term or the life of the asset

Upon disposal or impairment of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation is removed from the consolidated financial statements and the net amount, less any proceeds, is included in net loss.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. If such circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows produced by the long-lived asset, including its eventual residual value, is compared to the carrying value to determine whether impairment exists. In the event that such cash flows are not expected to be sufficient to recover the carrying amount of the assets, the assets are written-down to their estimated fair values. Fair value is estimated through discounted cash flow models to project cash flows from the asset.

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation

The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for share-based payments based on estimated fair value, using the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of certain estimates and judgmental assumptions that affect the amount of share-based compensation expense recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements. These assumptions include the historical volatility of the Company's stock price, expected term of the options, the risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yields. Share-based compensation is recognized using the graded accelerated vesting method.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenditures are charged to net loss in the period in which they are incurred and are comprised of the following types of costs incurred in performing research and development activities: contract services for clinical trials and related clinical manufacturing costs, salaries and benefits including share-based compensation expense, costs for allocated facilities and depreciation of equipment and license fees paid in connection with our early discovery efforts

General and Administrative Expenses

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related benefits, including share-based compensation, related to our executive, finance, business development, legal, human resources and support functions. Other general and administrative expenses include professional fees for auditing, tax, consulting and patent-related services, rent and utilities and insurance.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Income taxes have been accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applicable to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in net loss in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded if, based upon the weight of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. For uncertain tax positions that meet "a more likely than not" threshold, the Company recognizes the benefit of uncertain tax positions in the consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Operating segments are components of a business where separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker for purposes of making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. To date, the Company and the chief operating decision-maker has viewed its operations and managed its business as one segment operating primarily in the United States.

Net Loss per Share

Net Loss per Share

Basic net loss per common share is calculated by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for potentially dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares and potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period. Common share equivalents outstanding, determined using the treasury stock method, are comprised of shares that may be issued under the Company’s stock option and warrant agreements.

Fair Value Measurements

The authoritative guidance for fair value measurements defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or the most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are (i) independent, (ii) knowledgeable, (iii) able to transact, and (iv) willing to transact. The guidance prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value into the following hierarchy:

• Level 1- Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

• Level 2- Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

• Level 3- Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.